of brooklyn



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

F. S. OTIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. CHAPMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP FOR THE ENDS OF BUSTLE-HOOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 26,876, dated January 1'7, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. OTIs, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and useful Toothed Clasp for the Ends of Bustle- Hoops; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descript-ion of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the anneXed drawing, making part of this specie ication, wherein Figure l, represents several ends of thel bustle hoops of a skirt connected by my improved clasp. Fig. 2, shows the back of one of my clasps. Fig. 3 shows the clasp as cut out by a die from a` sheet of metal. Fig. 4, represents the common clasp as generally used.

Similar characters denote the same parts.

In ladies skeleton skirts the ends of the upper hoops are not connected together, but left open in order that the skirt can be put over the head; these upper hoops are usually termed the bustle hoops; Fig. 4, represents the manner in which they are usually connected to the galoons or tapes, in which instance the clasp incloses the end of the hoop and the covering of the same butprojects from to 1- of an inch beyond the edge of the galoon and hence in putting the skirtover the head, these projecting ends are liable to catch and become entangled in the hair. My said invention removes this inconvenience, and at the same time makes a more firm and reliable attachment of the end of the hoop to the tape or galoon.

For the foregoing purpose I make use of the clasp 61 that is formed with the clasping ears l, 1, as usual, and with the tongue 2, to bend around the end of the hoop, said tongue being longer than the one usually constructed.

3, 8, are teeth formed on the edges of the clasp a.

b, I), represent the bustle hoops, o, one of the usual galoons to which the bustle hoops are attached at the point of intersection by any usual device, el, is the galeon on one side of the opening at the front of the skirt taking one range of ends of the bustle hoops, the galeon on the other side of the opening taking the other ends of said bustle hoops.

In order to apply my improved clasp I bring the end of the hoop (b) to t-he correct position on the galeon d, the end of the hoop being at the inner edge of the galoon. I then apply the clasp ct, over the hoop, the teeth 3, 3, penetrate the galoon. I then turn the tongue 2, around to the back, inclosing the end of the hoop, and turn the teeth 3, 3, down onto this tongue 2, holding the parts firmly in place as seen in Fig. 2. The ears l, l, are to be bentaround the hoops to secure the inner end of the clasp in the usual manner.

The advantages of my said invention for durability, cheapness, lightness and convenience in putting on and taking off the skirt without catching in the hair will be apparent from the foregoing.

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The clasp a, formed with the teeth 3, 3, to penetrate the galoon and conne the end of the tongue 2, when bent back around the end of the bustle hoop, as, and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this fourteenth day of November 1859.

F. S. OTIS.

IVitnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, CHAS. H. SMITH. 

